Leominster man charged in wrong-way fatal accident on turnpike

Sunday

Jul 21, 2013 at 7:12 AMJul 21, 2013 at 8:06 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

A New Jersey woman is dead and a Leominster man has been charged with causing her death by investigators who said he was driving the wrong way on the Massachusetts Turnpike Sunday morning when he struck two other vehicles.

The Worcester district attorney's office identified the alleged wrong-way driver as 33-year-old Dwayne A. Blackman of Leominster. He faces a charge of motor vehicle homicide by negligent driving, said Timothy J. Connolly, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, adding that the case remains under investigation.

A toll collector called state police about a driver heading eastbound in the westbound lanes about 4:35 a.m. Sunday.

As troopers headed out on the turnpike east of the wrong-way driver's location to get vehicles out of his way, another person called to report there had been a multiple-vehicle crash between Exit 10 in Auburn and the Charlton state police barracks, according to state police.

One of the vehicles was on fire. Fire and emergency responders from Auburn, Millbury and Charlton rushed to the scene.

The New Jersey woman, age 66, of Toms River, was declared dead at the scene, according to state police.

Mr. Blackman was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The other car that collided with Mr. Blackman's vehicle was occupied by two young Weymouth women. They were identified by Mr. Connolly as Jessica A. Maher, 19, and Katyln Abban, 20. Both were taken to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries, Mr. Connolly said.